Recently, diets for low carbohydrates and high fat has become popular. ST writes whether this type of diet is good for health and introduces healthy diet tips. .............................................................................Ed

On LCHF

Now low carbohydrate high fat (LCHF) diet is a hot fad in Korea. LCHF means eating food with less than 10% to 15% carbohydrates and more than 70% fat in the diet. Why is this method effective for weight loss?

Fat is not the direct cause of weight gain. Body weight increases when fat, sugar, and carbohydrate work together. Carbohydrates are the main energy source of our bodies. A reduced intake of carbohydrates results in an increase of alternative energy sources. A well-known carbohydrate alternative is fat. Unlike carbohydrates, however, fat is not accumulated in the body. A body that lacks carbohydrates will burn fat for energy, thereby resulting in the reduction of body weight.

Risk of LCHF

Nevertheless, there is a warning against the LCHF diet. The body produces a toxic substance called ketonic acid in the process of burning fat. Ketonic acid is particularly fatal because it may cause coma to diabetics.

In addition, five medical associations in Korea — Korean Endocrine Society, Korean Diabetes Association, Korean Society for the Study of Obesity, The Korean Nutrition Society, and Korean Society of Lipidology and Atherosclerosis — have announced that this LCHF diet is not an effective way of losing weight and that it can even cause health problems. According to these academic societies, a long-term high-fat diet can increase the risk of heart disease and nutritional imbalance, while a reduced amount of carbohydrate intake may cause brain dysfunction.

The Right Diet

A healthy diet is one that does not harm our bodies. Getting proper nutrients from balanced food is more than important. Regular physical activity is also great for good health as well as weight loss. Interested in weight management? Eat lots of vegetables and fruits. These healthy diets are superior to the LCHF diet in many ways.